On the occasion of the 62nd Independence of Nigeria, the Berom Youth Moulders-Association, BYM joins other Nigerians to reflect on our journey as a nation.
Independence day celebration provides us the time to celebrate our nationhood and freedom. It is most importantly a time to reflect on the sacrifices of our national heroes who fought and laid down their lives to secure our independence as a nation.
Education have been identified as the bedrock of any nation’s development. Unfortunate that while Nigeria is celebrating it’s 62nd Independence, the nation’s Universities have been closed for the past 7 months. This is as a result of government’s inability to honour an agreement signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU for over a decade.
While government says it has no funds to meet the Lecturer’s demand for a better Educational system, what citizens have witnessed is a misplacement of priorities as we have seen government borrow to fund other sectors.
Government has always received billions of naira from loots of past leaders without much to show. More worrisome is the institutionalization of corruption in the nation’s oil sector the NNPC.
It is unfortunate that this present Government convinced Nigerians before coming to power in 2015 that subsidy does not exist. Yet, what we witness today is billions of naira going in the name of subsidy.
As it stands, a dollar goes for over Seven Hundred naira.
In March 2022, the World Bank had projected that poor Nigerians will hit 95.1 million in 2022.
Aside the pandemic, insecurity, particularly in farming communities like Plateau state is driving millions of Nigerians who are farmers into poverty with hunger staring into our faces. From April to September alone, over 600 farmlands with crops like maize, Irish Potatoes, Fonio (Acha) Rice, Yam, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Soya Beans etc worth over 200 million Naira in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local Government Areas have been destroyed by Fulani marauders. This is a signal of hunger a throwing more into poverty.
The security situation in our villages is getting more alarming as villagers have been like helpless but hopeful chickens whose chicks are picked one after another by the hawk.
It is on record that over 68 villages and communities in Berom land have been sacked and are currently occupied by Fulani militias with no challenge whatsoever either from the Berom native owners or the government as well as security services in favour of justice, equity and fairness.
Sadly, the plight of Displaced Persons in this general area is yet to receive any meaningful attention in terms of relief, rehabilitation and return from any quotas or authority in the land except the usual infamous slogans, ‘Government is on top of the situation, and is assuring all citizens to go about their normal/lawful business without any fear or intimidation’.
The Federal Government had pledged a sum of N10 billion and to established a Mobile Police Squadron unit in Gashish when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Plateau State after herdsmen attack Gashish communities and killed over 300 persons in 2018. Till today, nothing has been done to that regard.
As Nigerians though the Independence celebration is an opportunity to pay respect to our beautiful nation, it is a period that our leaders should reflect on their inability to fulfill the social contract they have with the people.
We appeal to the electorates to take advantage of the 2023 general Elections to get things right by voting leaders who will change the narratives of this great nation.
May the labour of our heroes past never be in vain.
Independence Day
God bless Nigeria.
Rwang Tengwong
BYM National Publicity Secretary
01/10/2022